Emergency electric generating set



April 23; 1935. J, p BRYAN 1,998,656

EMERGENCY ELECTRIC GENERATING SET original Filed July 7, '1930 2 sheets-sheet 1 f" l E l ATTORNEY April 23, 1935. J. P. BRYAN EMERGENCY ELECTRIC GENERATING SET Original Filed July 7, 1930 2 Sheetsheet 2 VHG2 j? BY INVENTQR iw E l(Ai IORNEY f ygenerating units.

Patented vpr. 23, 1935 PATENT orifice EMERGENCY ELECTRIC GENERATING SET Joseph Bryan, Troy, Pa.

Application July 7, 1930, Serial No. 465,866

- Renewed August 21, 1934 K v 9 Claims. This 'invention `relates to emergency electric In many instances it is desirable, and Leven necessary, that an auxiliary or emergency electric generating set be in readiness to supply current when the main source cf electricity fails for any reason. `As an instanceof this, the lights in moving picture theatres and other places of public gathering are usually lighted from theV supply mains for the city, Which mains are usually laid along the streets and receive their electricity from a central generating station. If such a source of of the iiremen on reaching a re is to disconnectV all connection of the fired building with the electric supply mains. This, of course, extinguishes all the electric lights in the building including the exit lights, and in time of fire the people left in darkness not knowing which way to turn, are

likely to become involved in a panic with consef quent disaster. Many actual occurrences have taken place wherein large numbers of people have been seriously injured rand even killed because of failure of the lights in time of lire.

It has been proposed to provide an'emergency generating set to supply electricity in place of the regular source, and on account of-the fact that substantiallyall buildings are provided with Water mains under pressure, so that a source of power is thus supplied in substantially all in,- stances, it has beenproposed to utilize the usual Water mains in a building as a source of power for driving an emergency electric generator set to supply electricity When the main source yof supply fails. Such sets have been quite extensively used in practice and have given satisfactory service at least to the extent of supplying the exit lights with current so that panic conditions, as referred to, have been avoided.

In such sets the Water motor forV driving the k generator has been controlled byk a valve operated in responseto current in the main supply lines. This is eiected by causing the valve to be held closed by an electromagnet receiving its energizing current from the supply mains, such valve being vopened when it is released by the electrcmagnet becoming deenergized, as when the main source of current supply fails. In order that the set may properly perform its functions and meet the emergency of the failure of the main supply of electric current, it is necessary that the valve controlling the Water Wheel should certainly operate at the proper time. Any fail- F ure to so operate might obviously be attended by disastrous consequences. A needle nozzle for the Water Wheel, i. e. a nozzle through which the Water is supplied to the wheel containing a needie valve, affords a readily adjustable and satlo isfactory means of regulation of the Water supe plied tothe Wheel. `The needle valve is, however, peculiarly liableunder some circumstances, after it has been seated upon its seat, to become stuck thereto, as for instance by corrosion incident to infrequent operation of the set. When, therefore, the needle valve is relied upon to shut oi the water from the Wheel, thus rendering necessary its seating upon its seat, the needle valve is peculiarly liable tobecome stuck and not open at the desired time.A Such valve, however, has peculiarly valuable regulating properties as above referred to.

It is the main object of the present invention to provide a hydro-electric emergency generating set with a desired regulating valve for the Water wheel and also means for shutting oil and adr niitting Water to the Water wheel whichv shall be certain in operation and free from the objections as noted. To this end a .valve peculiarly adapted for` regulating purposes, but which is never seated/is ernployedfor regulation, While a valve of a diierent type, is employed for shutting off the `supply of Water to the Water wheel.

It is therefore a further object of the inven tion to provide ahydro-electric emergency generating set wherein one type of valve is used for regulating the Water supply to the water motor and another type of valve is employed for shutting off the supply of water to that motor. A lneedle valve is peculiarly adapted for regulating purposes, while a different type of valve, such as a gate valve or a globe valve, is less liable to become stuck to its seat by corrosion or otherwise; and it is therefore a further object of the invention to provide a hydro-electric emergency lighting set wherein the Water supplied to the Wheel is regulated by a needle nozzle, While it is never seated and so cannot become stuck to its seat, the supply of water to the Wheel being shut oi or turned on by means of a different type of valve. f e

Other andeancillary objects of the invention will appear hereinafter. n. L

' makes In the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention- Fig. l is a diagrammatic view of apparatus embodying the invention; and

Fig. 2 is a vertical section transverse to the shaft of the water wheel showing the arrangement of the valves and regulating means with relation to the water wheel Referring to drawings, the apparatus comprises a water wheel i of the impulse or any other suitable type, the shaft 2 upon which the runner of the water wheel is ixed, extending to the direct current electric generator 3, the armature of tle gene 1ator being fixed 'on the shaft 2 which is continuous between the runner of the water wheel and the armature oi the generator. The water for operating the wheel is introduced through a nozzle 13 controlled by a needle Valve the stern S or which is secured. to a yieldable diaphragm 'i of rubber or othersuitable material forming a fluid-tight partition Vseparating the casing S into the fluid-tight chan1- bers Si and l?. The stem continues on through vthe diaphragm l and has secured toit at one end,

the plate i2, having the compression spring il, interposed between it and the casing This spring is under compression so it tends to withu draw the needle valve from the nozzle opening and so increase the ,size of that opening, and the supply of water to the water wheel. Water under pressure is supplied from the usual house water ina-in i3 through the pipe ifi, the globe valve -l5 and the pipe le to the 'junction il.

From this junction water is led by the pipe it to the' chamber 9. Also from the junction i? the pipe is leads into the chamber 2S whence the nozzle opens into the water wheel. The parts are so adjusted that the needle can never be forced against or seated in the nozzle, The pressure oi' the water the chamber tends to force the diaphragm l against the tension of the spring il andsornove the needle valve 5 further into the nozzle il, so as to decrease the opening in the nozzle, and the supply of water to the turbine. It will thus ce seen that the water delivered to the turbine through the nozzle is regulated accord-- ing to the pressure loi" the water, the needle valve being withdrawn from the nozzle by the spring to thereby increase the opening in the nozzle. Conversely the needle valve will be moved to decrease the nozzle opening as the pressure of the water supply increases.

The shutting off of the water supply from the Vwater wheel is controlled by the globe valve l5 and it is completely closed in order to entirely shut off the water. Conversely the water is per- Initted to .e supplied to the wheel when the valve l5 is open. The opening and closing of the valve l5 is accomplished by rneans oi a hydraulic cylinder 2l which is actuated in response to the energization and de-cnergization of n electroinag net which has the terminals of its coil connected to the niain or street supply electric mains 'E3 and d. hen current is on those mains and the elec'troniagnet is consequently energized, its plunger '25 will be attracted upwardly against the compression spring The lower end of the plunger has pivoted to it a link 25 which link is also pivoted to the arm 2l xed upon the rotatable valve spindle 28. Upon this spindle is also fixed the 'valve member E@ which fluid-tight contact with the valve casing 3S. With the plunger 25 raised, the varm 2'! and valve ineinber te will occupy the position as shown in dotted lines in Fig. l. The water '23 and 2d should fail, the electromagnet 'therebydeenergized the plunger 25 will be forced li'with the terminals of the main I3 which is connected with the port 3l will be connected through that port and the port 32 and the pipe 33 With the cylinde El above the piston 34. At the same time the portion of that cylinder below the piston 34 will be connected through the pipe 35, the valve port and the valve port 3l with the drain pipe Under these conditions the piston 313 will be forced downwardly, carrying with it the piston rod 3S which carries the movable valve member d, and the valve member 40 will be forced against its seat thereby closing the valve and shutting off the lwater supply from the water wheel.

If, however, the'current supply on the mains t 'if' being downwardly by the spring 25 and the valve rnem- -ber 29, lwill occupy the position as shown in the fullrlines in Fig, l. The valve ports 3E and 36 willthen be connected so that the cylinder below he ports 32 and 3'?, with the drainpipe The iston will, therefore, rise and will carry with it e movable valve member 4S thereby opening e valve and admitting water from the main to e water wheel.

It will'now appear that when current is suppliedbythe mains 23 and 24 water will be shut ofi from the water wheel and the generating set will be at rest. If, however, the mains 23 and 2f! should iail to supply current, the valve i5 will be opened and the generating set kwill be started up.

Normally the consumption circuit including the conductors 4l and l2 and the lamps Q3 or other translating device are to be con l .ed with and derive their current'from the man supply lines 23v and Upon failure of current the supply lines, however, the hy ro-electric generator set is started up as just described and supplies current to the consumption circui In order that the consumption circuit y be norrnally connected with the sup conductors and that the connections of that circuit inay be changed to connect with the generator of the emergency generating set uponfailure of curent in the main supply conductors, switching apparatus maybe rovided as will nowy be described.

The conductors 4I and 42 are respectively nected with the contacting switchblades 34 lili-which switch blades pivoted at il h con-

and and 123' andere connected together by an insulating link which is pivoted its ends to blades d!! and 45. The conductors 23 and 24 are respectively connected by the conductors ant with the stationary switching contacts and 5l Other stationary switch contacts 552l and 53 are respectively connected by the conductors t and generator 3. The piston rod Si extends upwardly through the upper end of the cylinder and at its upper end has fixed to it a lateral projection 5G which, on its downward stroke, is adapted to engage with the horn 5? of the forked end ci the blade Iii, and throw the switch into the position as indicated in dotted lines, while on its upward stroke it is adapted to engage'the horn 58 to thiow the switch into the position as indicated in full lines. It will thus beapparent that when the piston is in its lowe most'position, which is 'the case when current beingsupplied bythe mains 13 and 24, that the 'switch' blades 'it and i5 will be in theposition as '75 the terminals ofthe generator.

indicated in dotted lines when the consumption circuit will be connected with the main supply conductors 23 and 24. When, however, current failson the conductors 23 and 24, the piston 34 will be in its uppermost position, and the switch will be in the position as indicated in full lines when the consumptionfcircuit will be connected with the terminals of the emergency generator.

It will now be apparent from the foregoing that when the main line conductors are energized the consumption circuit will be supplied therefrom and the water supply will be cut o from the water wheel of the emergency generating set which will therefore be at rest'. When, however, current on the main supply mains fails water iwill be supplied to the water wheel and the generator set in operation, and at the same time the consumption circuit will be disconnected from the main supply conductors and connected with During this operation the supply of water to the water wheel will be regulated according to the pressure of the water by means of a needle nozzle which, however, is never closed or seated, this function being performed by the valve l which is of a type not liable to lstiel: and fail of operation, and at the same time the peculiarly valuable regulating qualities of the needle valve are availed of.

When the mains 23 and 24 again become energized the valve I5 will be closed, thereby shutting off' the water supply from the water wheel and the switching mechanism will be operated s0 that the consumption circuit will be disconnected from the generator of the emergency set and connected with the main supply conductors 23 and 24.y

kWhile the invention has been illustrated in what is considered its best application it may have other embodiments without departing from its spirit and is not therefore limited to the structures shown in the drawings.

What I claim is: 1. In an emergency electric generating set, the

. combination `with an electric generator of a fluid pressure operated motor, driving connections between said motor and generator, a conduit conducting iluid to said motor, a'valve in said conduit to shut off the supply of fluid to said motor, a circuit, means foroperating said valve in response to voltage conditions in said circuit, and a iiuid-pressure-controlled valve responsive to fluid pressure in said conduit between said valves for rregulatingthe uid supplied to said motor.

2. In an emergency electric generating set, the combination with an electric generator of a fluid ypressure operated motor` driving connections between said motor and generator, a conduit conf pressure operated motor, driving connections between said motor and generator, a conduit conducting fluid to said motor, a valve in said conduit to shut off the supply of fluid to said motor, a circuit, means for operating said valve in response to voltage conditions in said circuit, and

` a iiuid-pressure-controlled valve responsive to uid pressure in said conduit between said valves for regulating the fluid supplied to said motor, aY consumption circuit and means responsive to voltage conditions in the first mentioned circuit for alternatelyconnecting said consumption circuit with they firstnientioned circuit and with said generator. Y

4. In an emergency electric generating set, the combination with an electric generator of a uid pressure operated motor, driving connections ben tween said motor and generator, a conduit conducting fluid to said motora valve in said conduit to shut off the supply of fluid to'said motor, a circuit, means for operating said valve in response to voltage'conditions in said circuit anda needle valve responsiveto fiuid pressure in said conduit for regulating the fluid supplied to said motor, a consumption circuit and means responsive to voltage conditions in the first mentioned circuit for alternately connecting said consumption circuit with the first mentioned circuit and with said generator.

.5. In an emergency electric generating set, the combination with an electric generator of a fluidpressure-operated motor, driving connections between said motor and generator, a conduit conducting iiuid to said motor, a valve in said conduit to shut off the supply of uid to said motor, a circuit, means for operating said valve in response to voltage conditions in said circuit, a valve for regulating the fluid supplied to said motor, and means for preventing seating of said regulating valve.

6. I n an emergency electric generating set, the combination with an electric generator of aV fluidpressure-operated motor, driving connections between said motor and generator, a conduit conducting fiuid to said motor, a valve in said conduit to shut off the supply of fluidto said motor, a circuit, means for operating said valve in response to voltage conditions in said circuit, a`

fluid-pressure-controlled valve for regulating the fluid supplied to said motor, and means for preventing seating of said regulating valve.

7. In an emergency electric generating set, the combination with an electric generator of a fluidpressure-operated motor, driving connections between said motor and generator, a conduit conducting fluid to said motor, a valve in said conduit to shut ofi the supply of fluid to said motor, a circuit, means for operating said valve in response to voltage conditions in said circuit, a needle valve for regulating the fluid supplied to said motor, and means for preventing seating of 'said regulating valve.

8. In an emergency electric generating set, the combination with an electric generator, of a water wheel, driving connections between said generator and wheel, a nozzle through which water is projected to said water wheel, a reciprocable needle valve within said nozzle to cause the opening of said nozzle to be increased or diminished, means for preventing seating of said needle valve, a source of water supply for said nozzle, a conduit from said source to said nozzle, a valve in said conduit to shut off water from said wheel, a water operated cylinder having its piston connected with the last mentioned valve, means including a valve mechanism and pipes for alternately connecting the chambers in the cylinder on opposite sides of the piston, with the source of water supply, and connect the space in the cylinder on one side of the piston with a drain when the space on the other side of the ypiston is connected with kthe water source, an

electric circuit and an electromagnet connected to said circuit and operatively related to saidl valve mechanism.

9 In an einereerly electric eeneleting set, the

combination with an electric generator, of a water- Wheel, driving connections between said generator and Wheel, a nozzle through which water is projected to said Water Wheei, a reciprocable needle valve v-:itl-iin said nozzle to cause opening ci said nozzle to be increased o1' diminished, means for preventing seating of said needle valve, e, source of water supply for said nozzle,r a. conduit from said source to said nozzle, a valve in said conduit to shut @if water from said wheel, a Water operated cylinder having its piston connected with the last mentioned valve, means including e valve mechanism and pipes for alternately connecting the chambers in the cylinder on opposite Sides Qf the piston, with the source of water supply, and connect the space in the cylinder on one side of the piston with a drain when the space on the other side of the piston is connected with the wat-er source, an electric supply circuit and an clectromagnet connected to said circuit operatively related to said valve mechanism, a, consumption circuit and means including switching mechanism operated by the said piston for alternately connecting said consumption circuit with the said supply circuit and with said generator.

JOSEPH P. BRYAN. 

